By Pastor Stephen Hess –
Over the last several weeks, people from around the world have been shocked at Russia’s senseless invasion of Ukraine and the refugee crisis that is unfolding. Leaders from many nations have been scrambling to find ways to intervene and prevent this conflict from escalating into an even larger world war. Some are calling Russia’s invasion the greatest threat to security in Europe since World War II. When Christians read about such troubling and potentially cataclysmic events they sometimes wonder: Are these signs of the end times? Can we conclude that we are living in the last days?
According to Scripture, we have been living the last days ever since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Hebrews 1 says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Heb. 1:1-2). Notice that Hebrews describes the current period as the “last days.” Similarly, 1 John 2:18 says, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour” (1 Jn. 2:18). The Bible says that the entire period between the resurrection of Jesus and our current day is the last hour. Thus, in one sense we don’t have to ask whether we are living in the last days because the Bible affirms that we are!
Furthermore, Jesus said that troubling events will occur throughout the entire age of the church until the day that he returns. He says in Matthew 24, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matt. 24:4-8).
Christians should not be deceived and jump to the conclusion that the end has arrived when we hear about wars and rumors of wars. Jesus tells us that these are only the beginning of the birth pains. In Matthew 24 he lists at least seven different troubling things that we should expect to see throughout church history: 1) False Messiahs (24:5); 2) Wars and rumors of wars (24:6); 3) Natural disasters and calamities (24:7); 4) Persecution of God’s people (24:9); 5) Apostasy and betrayal (24:10); 6) False prophets (24:11); and 7) Increasing lawlessness (24:12). All these things have been present throughout church history and continue to be present today. Instead of being shocked and shaken when we witness them, we should expect them because Jesus predicted that they would come.
Additionally, Jesus warns us against being preoccupied with the day of his return. He says, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matt. 24:36). If even Jesus claimed not to know the hour of the final day, then it would be audacious for us to think we could ascertain this information. Instead of focusing on the timing of his return, Christ teaches us to focus on being ready for his return. He says, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:42-44).
The world may be driven to panic when it hears of wars and rumors of wars, but Christians should be driven to prayer. Here are five specific things we should be praying for: 1) Pray that God would increase our trust in his sovereignty. He predicted that these things would come, and he is still in control. 2) Pray that God would strengthen us to take the gospel to all nations. The end will not come until this task is finished (Matt. 24:14). 3) Pray that God would equip us to be salt and light. The body of Christ should be a refuge for those who are fleeing the evils of this world. 4) Pray that God would sanctify us so that we would be prepared for Christ’s return. It could come at any hour, so we must be ready. 5) Pray that Jesus would return quickly (Rev. 22:20). He promises that he is coming soon, and it is only at his coming that all things will be made new.